Frame clamping device

ABSTRACT

A bracket that is secured to a wall, and a clamp that is relatively movable with respect to the bracket, provide means for releasably holding an article such as a frame, picture, sign, or the like. Means are included for urging the clamp into engagement with the top of the article. Means are also included for locking the device when it is disengaged from the article as well as means for locking the device when it is in contact and engaged with the article.

United States Patent 1 1 Kaplan 1451 July 31, 1973 [5 FRAME CLAMPING DEVICE 541,653 6/1895 Bobrick 248/407 566,809 9/1896 Strong... 248/407 X [761 6743 758,015 4/1904 Miller 248/125 Bayslde, N.Y. Filed: 1971 Primary Examiner-William l-l. Schultz Attorney-Leonard [52] US. Cl. 248/488 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. A471 7/14 A bracket that is Secured to a wall and a damp that is [58] Field se'rch 248/3 [6 relatively movable with respect to the bracket, provide 248/488; 287/126 means for releasably holding an article such as a frame, picture, sign, or the like. Means are included for urging [56] Ree'ences Cited the clamp into engagement with the top of the article UNITED STATES PATE S Means are also included for locking the device when it 2,532,162 11/1950 Goss 248/488 x is g g d from e art a ell as means for lock- 2,696,962 12/1954 0088 248/488 X ing the device when it is in contact and engaged with 6l6,3ll 12/1898 Gracey.. 287/]26 the article. 3,550,894 l2/l970 Kaplan" 248/3l6 A 3,017,058 1/1962 Hulbcrt 248/316 A X 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 71 2a 2 I q '11 II {11 6 11 1'6 1 4 20 l1 36 14 I 10 1s PATENIED M 3 1 INVEINTOR Z0015 KAPLAN ATTORNEY FRAME CLAMPING DEVICE The aforementioned abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application which, of course, is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention:

This invention relates generally to clamps and more particularly to clamp means for releasably holding an article on a wall, such that the article may be readily changed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART closed in my aforementioned patent in that improved means are provided for releasably locking the clamp device in the disengaged position as well as means for locking the device once the clamp is engaged with the article that is to be retained. As in my aforementioned patent, the present invention comprises a bracket that is adapted to be fixedly secured to a first support surface such as wall. A clamp is mounted on the bracket and is adapted to be relatively movable with respect thereto so that a portion of the clamp can engage the top edge of the article. Spring means are used for urging the-gripping portionof the clamp into a position such that it releasably holds the article. The bracket is provided with means for releasably engaging the clamp that look the clamp in place after it has engaged the article. The bottom edge of the article rests on a second support member that is secured to the wall. The second support for the bottom edge of the article may also be a table orcountertop.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved, low-cost means for clamping an article on a wall or like support.

It is another object of this invention to provide a clamp, as described above, that is substantially universal as regards the size of the article.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a clamp as described above, that may be readily installed and which is simple to operate.

A further object of the present invention is to'provide means integral with the device for releasably locking the clamp in the disengaged position.

An additional object of this invention is to provide means integral with the device for releasably locking the clamp in the engaged position.

These and other features, objects andv advantages of the invention will, in part, be pointed out with particularity and will, in part, become obvious from the following more detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which forms an integral part thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the various figures of the drawing like reference characters designate like parts. In the Drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elcvational view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken along line 3A-3A and illustrating the device in an unlocked condition;

FIG. 3B is a fragmentary sectional elevational view similar to FIG. 3A but illustrating the same device in a locked condition;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view illustrating another locking feature of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating an alternative embodiment of one of the locking features of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, the basic concept of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the clamp assembly 10 is comprised of a bracket generally designated by the reference character 12, the bracket 12 having a base wall 14 at the rear thereof, a pair of side walls 16 extending outwardly from the base wall 14 and a pair of spaeedly opposed legs 18 extending towards each other from a position at the front edge of the side wall 16. Fastening means, such as screws 20, pass through the base wall 14 in order to secure the bracket 12 to a first support surface such as a wall W (FIG. 2).

A generally T-shaped clamping member, designated by the reference character. 22, is slidably captured within the bracket 12. In passing it should be noted that the clamping member 22 is very loosely disposed within the bracket 12, the purpose for which will be described hereinafter. The device 10 may thus be used for indi-. vidual letters or numbers that are adapted to be mounted on a sign. The clamping member 22 is com prised of a transverse cross-member 24 having a downwardly turned forward lip 26. In addition, a wall 28 extends downwardly from the transverse portion 24 and the wall 28 is provided with a pair of spaeedly opposed rearwardly extending legs 30. The transverse portion 24 is adapted to engage and grip the-top edge of the article that is to be supported by the device 10. Other shapes may also be included within the broad scope of this invention.

The bottom end of the bracket 12 is provided with a tab 32 and. the top end of the clamping member 22 is provided'with a tab 34 that is generally aligned with the tab 32 formed on the bracket 12. Spring means 36 extend between the tabs 32 and 34 in order to urge the transverse member 24 in a downward direction towards a support member 37 that is secured to the wall W by means of screws 38'. The support member 37 has an upwardly turned outer lip 40 so that in combination with the transverse member 24, the article to be supported is positioned therebetween. Of course, other shapes can be used. It should be particularly noted that the axis of the spring means 36 is offset with respect to the bracket I2 and'the wall 28 of the clamp 24. That is, as

shown particularly in FIG. 1, the axis of the spring means 36 is to the right of the center line of the device and near the side wall 16. This construction forces the T-shaped clamping member to one side in the open or disengaged position.

The upper end of the rear wall 14 of the bracket 12 is formed with an outwardly turned tab 42 that extends between the side leg 30 of the clamping member 22. The bottom end of the clamping member 22 is formed with a rearwardly turned tab 44 intermediate the side leg 30 thereof and in alignment with the tab 42. One of the tabs 42 or 44 is bent as shown after assembly so as to capture the bracket 12 and the clamping member 22 with respect to each other but still allowing sufficient longitudinal movement therebetween.

In order to releasably lock the bracket 12 to the clamping member 22 when the device is in the article engaging or downward position, a tab 46 is bent forwardly from the rear wall 14 of the bracket 12. The tab 46 as shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B is positioned in the path of the wall 28 of the clamping member 22. Thus, when the clamping member 22 is moved downwardly, the wall 28 will frictionally engage the tab 46 and displace it to the right as shown in FIG. 3B. The inherent resiliency of the material from which the device is formed assures a releasable locking arrangement between the two members 12 and 22. The bracket 12 and the clamping member 22 may be made from any suitable material such as aluminum or steel by means of a stamping operation so that they are formed with a minimum number of operations. Alternatively, a rigid moldable plastic having a resilient characteristic may be used.

Frequently, it is desirable to hold the clamping member 22 in the disengaged position for a short period of time. In order to do this it is necessary to overcome the force of the spring means 36'. A very simple, yet effective, means for accomplishing the locking of the device in the disengaged position is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. During the forming operation a detent and slit 48 is made in the side wall 16 of the bracket 12. Because this downwardly extending central portion of the T-shaped clamping member 22 is very loosely disposed within the side wall 16 of the bracket 12 and is laterally shiftable, it is a very simple matter to cock the clamping member 22 so that the leg 30 thereof releasably engages the detent 48 as shown in an exaggerated form in FIG. 4. This temporary locking arrangement is easily overcome merely by straightening out the clamping member 22 and allowing the spring 36 to urge it in a downward direction towards the'support member 36.

An alternative arrangement for releasably clamping the member 22 to the bracket 12 in the engaged position is shown in FIG. 5. The bottom end of the bracket 12' is provided with inwardly converging side walls 50. Similarly, the lower end of the clamping member 22' is formed with inwardly converging or tapered side walls 52. It will be apparent that the two parts may be forced together temporarily so that a wedging action takes place. A similar force exerted in the opposite direction will cause the parts to separate.

It will be seen particularly in FIG. 2 that with an article such as a frame, or any other similarobject, a sign supported on the second support member 37 that extends outwardly from the Wall W, the spring 36 will normally urge the lip 24 downwardly to a second position shown in phantom outline and into engagement with the top of the article. Thus, it is a relatively simple matter to position and clamp the article and, when it is necessary to change the article for any reason, it is relatively simple to pull the lip 24 upwardly and thereby release the article. It will be appreciated that the present invention can accommodate a wide range of article sizes.

Although the device is shown in a vertical position, it should be understood that this is for convenience only. The device 10 is not limited to use in the orientation illustrated but may be positioned in any manner required since the action of the spring 36 for moving the clamping member 22 is positive and does not depend on the force of gravity.

In the embodiments discussed hereinabove, the bracket 12 and the clamping member 22 have been illustrated in a U-shaped form. This construction provides for substantial rigidity butit should be understood that other configurations may be used for the same purpose. For example, stiffening ribs may be included as desired, when the members are stamped.

Of particular importance to the scope of this invention is the fact that the clamping member is not limited to the T-like shape that has been illustrated. For example, the clamping member as shown in the drawing is admirably suited for engagement with a picture frame or the like wherein the surface or edge to be clamped is substantially straight. However, where a plate or similar article having a curved periphery is to be supported and clamped, the clamping member would be arcuate. In its broadest sense, the clamping member is shaped, to approximate as closely as is practical, the shape of the article to be clamped.

From the foregoing, it is evident that a relatively low cost device has been provided for releasably clamping an article with relation to a wall or like support. The embodiments described and illustrated provide a device that is substantially universal as regards the size of the article. In addition to being relatively inexpensive to manufacture, the device of this invention is readily installed without special skills or tools and is very simple to operate. Very reliable means have been provided for locking the clamping means in the engaged and disengaged positions.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the invention presentlycontemplated. It is to be understood, however, that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An improved devicc forreleasably clamping an article such as a plate, a picture, a sign or the like with respect to first and second support surfaces, said device including a bracket having a mounting portion adapted to be secured to the first support surface, clamping means mounted on the bracket for relative movement with respect thereto, the clamping means being movable from a first article disengaged position to a second article engaging position and spring means for moving the clamping means from one of the two positions to the other of the two position, at least a portion of the clamping means being in engagement in the second position with a portion of the article and the article is thereby held between the clamping means and the second support surface, said improvement comprising the combination of means for mounting said spring means wherein there is further included additional lockingmeans for locking the clamping means when it is in the second position and engaged with the article to be retained, said additional locking means comprising a resilient tab extending outwardly from the bracket, said tab being positioned in the plane of movement of the clamping means so as to interfere therewith when the clamping means is proximate the location where it engages the article to be retained. 

1. An improved device for releasably clamping an article such as a plate, a picture, a sign or the like with respect to first and second support surfaces, said device including a bracket having a mounting portion adapted to be secured to the first support surface, clamping means mounted on the bracket for relative movement with respect thereto, the clamping means being movable from a first article disengaged position to a second article engaging position and spring means for moving the clamping means from one of the two positions to the other of the two position, at least a portion of the clamping means being in engagement in the second position with a portion of the article and the article is thereby held between the clamping means and the second support surface, said improvement comprising the combination of means for mounting said spring means off center of said clamping means whereby said clamping means is angularly deflected in a substantially vertical plane when in said first disengaged position and locking means for releasably engaging the clamping means in said first position, said locking means including a detent formed in the bracket, said detent being positioned in the normal plane of movement of the clamping means so as to selectively prevent movement of the clamping means from the first position to the second position.
 2. The improvement in accordance with claim 1 wherein there is further included additional locking means for locking the clamping means when it is in the second position and engaged with the article to be retained, said additional locking means comprising a resilient tab extending outwardly from the bracket, said tab being positioned in the plane of movement of the clamping means so as to interfere therewith when the clamping means is proximate the location where it engages the article to be retained. 